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Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) walks off the field after falling to BYU 29-26 in overtime at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee defensive back Theo Jackson (26) shows that the pass was no good after Jackson broke up a pass intended for a BYU receiver at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt calls from the sideline during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee defensive lineman Greg Emerson (90) walks off the field after falling to BYU 29-26 in overtime during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee defensive lineman Ja'Quain Blakely (48) reacts after making a play during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) looks to pass during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee linebacker Henry To'o To'o (11) reacts after making a play during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee running back Ty Chandler (8) runs the ball as BYU linebacker Matthew Criddle (17) defends during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee punter Joe Doyle (47) reacts after Tennessee placekicker Brent Cimaglia (42) made a 51-yard field goal during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee punter Joe Doyle (47) reacts after Tennessee placekicker Brent Cimaglia (42) made a 51-yard field goal during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

BYU defensive back Sawyer Powell (28), BYU defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku (5) and Tennessee tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson (4) chase the ball during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

BYU wide receiver Micah Simon (13) is tackled by Tennessee defensive back Shawn Shamburger (12) and Tennessee defensive back Warren Burrell (4) during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee offensive lineman Dayne Davis (66) takes the field ahead of a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee defensive back Tyus Fields (17) takes the field ahead of a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith (73) takes the field ahead of a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson (4) takes the field ahead of a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee linebacker Henry To'o To'o (11) and BYU linebacker Chaz Ah You (3) shake hands at the end of the game during a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) walks off the field after falling to BYU 29-26 in overtime at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) walks off the field after falling to BYU 29-26 in overtime at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Where else but Tennessee would it be possible for Fulmer to regain the same coaching job from which he was fired 11 years ago? Fulmer’s ascent already has been remarkable.

The chronology: UT paid him millions of dollars to leave the premises. Former UT president Joe DiPietro created a special advisory job, which he filled with Fulmer. Former UT chancellor Beverly Davenport welcomed Fulmer's input on Tennessee’s search for a new head coach.

Fulmer then reviewed the playbook that first put him into the head-coaching business and put his former boss, Johnny Majors, out of the head-coaching business. Fulmer likely undercut AD John Currie, who was a ridiculously easy victim given his wayward coaching search in 2017, then sabotaged Currie’s Hail Mary attempt to hire Washington State coach Mike Leach.

And just like that, Currie was out and Fulmer was in as AD. The same man who put Tennessee football on its downward spiral then vowed to fix the football program.

His fix: Hire Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, who has lost nine of his first 14 games as UT's coach.

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Tennessee football head coach Phil Fulmer celebrates on stage with quarterback Tee Martin behind him and the Sears National Championship trophy Jan. 4, 1999, in Tempe, Arizona. The Vols went 13-0 and finished with a Fiesta Bowl triumph over Florida State to win the national title. Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer congratulates running back Montario Hardesty (2) as he comes off the field after scoring one of Tennessee's touchdowns in their 28-10 victory over Kentucky Saturday in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

University of Tennessee Athletic Director Phillip Fulmer, left, introduces Jeremy Pruitt during his introduction ceremony as Tennessee's next head football coach at the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, December 7, 2017. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer is carried off the field by Anthony Parker (75) and Ramon Foster (78) after the Volunteers beat Kentucky 28-10 in their last home game of the season and the last football game for Fulmer Saturday, November 29, 2008 in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton (8) waits for a reaction from head coach Phillip Fulmer on the sideline. Tennessee lost 30-6 to Florida in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, September 20, 2008.
Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Phillip Fulmer takes the field for the first time as University of Tennessee head football coach Jan. 1, 1993, at the Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa, Fla. The 17th-ranked Vols defeated Boston College 38-23 in Fulmer's first game after replacing Johnny Majors.(Paul Efird/News Sentinel) KNS Archive, Paul Efird/News Sentinel

frisec3.MP MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL The University of Tennessee football team led by David Cutcliffe, center, and head coach Phillip Fulmer, right, walk onto the field of the Georgia Dome Friday afternoon for a walk-through practice. Tennessee plays LSU for the SEC Championship Saturday at 4 p.m. News Sentinel Archives

Monday, November 3, 2008
Emotion overwhelms Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer Monday during a press conference as his players applauded for him at Neyland Stadium on Monday, November 3, 2008. Fulmer announced that he will be stepping down as head coach at the end of the season. Saul Young/News Sentinel

Tennessee Athletic Director Phil Fulmer greets students standing in line before Tennessee's home basketball game against Kentucky at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel

At left Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer watches during Tennessee football's first practice of the spring season at University of Tennessee Thursday, March 7, 2019. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

Tennessee Director of Athletics and former head football coach Phillip Fulmer speaks during a Tennessee signing day celebration at the UTK Student Union in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, February 6, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

0902utcal.JA#6271.jpg -- sports -- UT coach Phillip Fulmer celebrates a touchdown by Robert Meachem in the third quarter against Cal on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. The Vols won the season opener with ease, 35-18.
Jeff Adkins/NEWS SENTINEL ----09/02/2006. Adkins, Jeff, JEFF ADKINS

Tennessee's Peerless Price celebrates and yells to the crowd as head coach Phil Fulmer talks to reporters on the award stand Monday, Jan. 4, 1999 after winning the National Championship. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Florida head coach Urban Meyer, left, and Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer watch their teams warm up before the start of their NCAA college football game in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008. Mark Humphrey, AP

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones, left, poses with former Tennessee coaches Phil Fulmer, center, and Doug Dickey before the inductions to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 17, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. AP

Phillip Fulmer celebrates with the 1998 championship team during a game between Tennessee and Florida at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 22, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel NFS

Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer watches the team practice during Tennessee fall football practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

University of Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer passes a jersey to Kellie Harper during a press conference announcing her as new head coach of the Lady Vols, in the Ray and Lucy Hand Studio on University of Tennessee's campus Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

Tennessee athletic director Philip Fulmer walks on the field with his wife and grandson during the homecoming game between Tennessee and Charlotte outside of Neyland Stadium Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Tennessee Volunteer head coach Phillip Fulmer watches a replay on the jumbotron during their 13-7 homecoming loss to the University of Wyoming Cowboys Saturday in 2008 in Neyland Stadium. Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Tennessee's coach Phil Fulmer and the rest of Tennessee's sideline pile onto the field after James Wilhoit's game-winning field goal kick against Florida at Neyland Stadium. 9/18/2004 Jeff Adkins/News Sentinel

Tennessee Director of Athletics and former football coach Phillip Fulmer meets with Burt Reynolds during a red carpet movie premiere for "The Last Movie Star" at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 29, 2018. The movie, staring Burt Reynolds, was filmed mostly in Knoxville during 2016 and is hitting theaters on Friday. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee athletic director Philip Fulmer reacts to Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) getting sacked on a fourth down in the final minutes of a game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. South Carolina defeated Tennessee 27-24. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel NFS

The Tennessee bench including head coach Phillip Fulmer, orange vest, celebrates after a 27-24 overtime win over South Carolina in a college football game Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007 in Knoxville, Tenn. AP

In this Oct. 29, 2005 file photo, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, right, talks with Tennessee coach before an NCAA college football game in Knoxville, Tenn. Through most of the 1990s, games between Phillip Fulmer's Tennessee Volunteers and Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators helped decide Southeastern Conference championship and national titles. On Saturday, the two winningest active coaches in the SEC will be playing for the inside track to fourth place in their division. AP

Tennessee Volunteer Head Coach Phillip Fulmer walks through cheering fans during the Vol Walk two hours before their battle with the Crimson Tide of Alabama, Saturday, October 25, 2008 in Neyland Stadium. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

PAUL EFIRD/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL - December 20, 1992 - University of Tennessee football Coach Phillip Fulmer announced Monday, Nov, 3, 2008, his plans to step down. Here Fulmer shares a pat on the back with then University of Florida Coach Steve Spurrier. Fulmer lost to Spurrier again Saturday 110108 as UT fell to the University of South Carolina 27-6. Paul Efird/News Sentinel

Head coach Phillip Fulmer and his wife, Vicky, walk off the field after Tennessee's 13-7 homecoming game loss to the University of Wyoming Cowboys on Nov. 8, 2008, in Neyland Stadium. MICHAEL PATRICK, Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee AD Philip Fulmer and his wife Vicki arrive for the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Belk College Kickoff game in Charlotte, NC Saturday, September 1, 2018. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

News Sentinel Archives: University of Tennessee Head football coach Phillip Fulmer and his wife Vicky Fulmer have committed to a $1 million gift to the University of Tennessee. The announcement is made at Circle Park during a press conference.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Saul Young/News Sentinel Saul Young, Knoxville News Sentinel

Bruce Pearl's chest-painting stunt at a Lady Vols basketball game last season continued to get chuckles Monday at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Sevierville in 2007 while seated with Phillip Fulmer. Pearl quipped that just a little exposure by him has led to a lot of exposure for Tennessee. J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel Archives, Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer is doused with Tostitos after his team beat Florida State 23-16 to win the Fiesta Bowl and the national championship Monday, Jan. 4, 1999, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz AP

Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer gets doused with Gatorade following the Volunteers 24-14 win over Mississippi State in the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998. Associated Press

John Ward, former "Voice of the Vols", left, and Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer hold the 1998 National Championship trophy during a special 10-year anniversary tribute at half-time Saturday during the University of Tennessee's annual Orange/White Spring football game at Neyland Stadium. Clay Owen/News Sentinel

Phillip Fulmer chats with Tennessee head basketball coach Rick Barnes in the parking lot during a game between Tennessee and Alabama at Lindsey-Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Friday, March 23, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Athletics Director Phillip Fulmer hugs University of Tennessee Chancellor Beverly Davenport during a game between Tennessee and Georgia at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville on March 2, 2018. Calvin Mattheis / News Sentinel

Keaton Jones with University of Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer during a visit to Anderson Training Center in Knoxville on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. Kyle Zedaker/Tennessee Athletics

Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer, right, chats with actor David Keith during the premier of "The Color Orange: The Condredge Holloway Story" at the Tennessee Theatre on Feb. 16, 2011. Saul Young / News Sentinel

University of Tennessee football coach Phil Fulmer and his wife, Vicky, celebrate a perfect season after arriving from the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999, at McGhee Tyson Airport. Fulmer's Vols captured the NCAA championship with a 23-16 win over Florida State. Paul Efird/News Sentinel

Former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, center, is congratulated by coach Phillip Fulmer as his jersey is retired Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005, at Neyland Stadium. UT President John Petersen is at left. Saul Young/News Sentinel

Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer being carried off the field by Anthony Parker, left, and Ramon Foster, right, after defeating Kentucky in his final game as coach in Knoxville, Tenn on Nov. 29, 2008. AP

Phillip Fulmer takes the field for the first time as University of Tennessee head football coach at the Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa, Fla. on Jan. 1, 1993. The 17th ranked Vols defeated Boston College 38-23 in Fulmer's first game after replacing Johnny Majors News Sentinel

At many SEC schools, an AD’s failed hiring of a football coach is grounds for termination. But not at UT, where so many folks live in a 1998 bubble. In that bubble, all they can see is Fulmer holding a national championship trophy above his head.

Now, let’s continue my football fantasy.

Fulmer won’t make his move until UT absorbs its annual drubbing from Alabama. Then, Tennessee will announce Pruitt has resigned because of (pick one) family, personal or health reasons. It can consult with Urban Meyer to make sure the wording is just right.

The Vols will throw millions of dollars at Pruitt to go away; he will begin looking for a defensive coordinator’s job somewhere else; and Fulmer will be named interim head coach. When the Vols win four of their last five games, Fulmer will be named full-time coach.

“I never expected to get back into coaching,” he will say. “But I’m doing this for UT, not me.”

Fans will peer through their 1998 bubble and wait for the next national championship.

And wait. And wait.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.

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